Apparatus for the manufacture of glass.



No. 788,144. PATENTED APR. 25, 1905. R. S. PEASE.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASS.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 16. 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

wimeooea D@MM PATENTED APR. 25, 1905. R. S. PHASE.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16. 1902.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Snow W06 Patented April 25, 1905.

UNTTED STATES PATENT @TFTcE.

ROGER SHERMAN PEASE, OF ROSE, MINNESOTA.

APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASS- SPECIFICATION forming part ofLetters Patent No. 788,144, dated. April 25, 1905.

Application filed uly 16,1902. fierial No. 115,861-

Be it known that 1, Room: Summau PEASE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Rose, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for theManufacture of (ll-ass, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to the manufacture of glass, and is primarilyintended for the economical production of window-glass, though it may beapplied to the manufacture of cylinders or tubes of any desired shape incrosssection and other forms or bodies.

The apparatus about to be described is one of a variety of forms devisedby me for earrying outa novel method or art of producing glass sheetsand other bodies and involves means for producing from the molten glassor metal of which the body is to be formed a bait to determine the sizeand thickness of the walls of the body produced. This, however, will bemade more clear in the description which follows.

The invention is illustrated in simple form, unnecessary details ormatters common and well understood in the art of glass-making beingomitted to avoid needless elaboration.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional view of apparatus embodying myinvention and showing the parts in the positions which they occupy atthe moment of beginning the formation of the body; Fig. 2, a similarview, but showing the central chill, core, or cylinder and head elevatedabove the level of the molten glass or metal: Fig. 3, a Viewillustrating the formation of the bulb from which the bait is produced;Fig. 4, a view showing the head lifted to a still higher position andthe bait drawing upward from the mass of molten metal a cylinder-orother hollow body, and Fig. 5 a sectional perspective view of the headby which the bait is lifted and the cylinder or other body is drawn fromthe mass of molten metal.

in the drawings, A indicates the floor, bed, or base of a chamber, or itmay be a mere table or platform having an opening through it, preferablyof circular form, though the shape is not essential.

B designates a hollow-walled vessel pro vided with inlet and outletpipes 11 I; for the ingress and of water or other cooling medium. Thisvessel is here represented as having a raised center or boss, which formis preferred for the reason that it atfordsa better guide or bearing forthe central core or chill C, which is arranged to lit and to slide in avertical opening through the vessel B. The core or cylinder U is itselfmade hollow and provided with inlet and outlet pipes e (Z. Anyconvenient means may be provided for raising and lowering the core, soas to carry its upper end above or below the level of the molten glassor metal, as ['04 1 iii red. Obviously the core may be lixed and thelevel of the glass varied in any common and well known way to effect thesame result; but a movable core is deemed the better construction. Ifmade stationary, however, it may of course be integral with the vesselB.

Gas-burners l) or other suitable means of heating the contents of vessel15 may be provided, or the molten metal may be delivered to the vesselat such temperature and used so rapidly as to render further heatingunnecessary. I prefer, however, to provide some means of heating, and toretain the heat covers E may be furnished.

In Fig. 1 l have shown a lover I connected with the core or chill (J andprovided with a locking-bolt 1' to engage a rack f and hold the lever,and consequently the core, at the desired :nljustment. Any equivalentand wellknown means for adjusting and holding the core or chill may ofcourse be substituted for that shown.

G indicates a head, which may be of any suitable form, but is preferablyof flattened dome shape, as seen in the several figures. This head issupported by one or more rods or uprightsofsuitable character.Preferably the supports are three in number and are of tubular form. twoof them, r/ and lb, being designed to carry water or other cooling agentor medium into and out of the head (wr, and the third, being closed atits upper end or against communication with the interior-of head L1, butperforated below said head, so that it may serve as an exit for heatedair being drawn, except as it may be desired to withdraw the air fromthe upper part thereof under proper control, the lower end of.the chillor core C is closed, but is perforated where the pipes g, 71, i, and Hare passed through the same.

The apparatus being constructed as above described or in substantialaccordance with said description, its operation is as follows: The headGr is lowered to the position indicated in Fig. l or to such position asshall enable'the molten glass lying in or introduced into the vessel Bto completely cover said head. The molten glass within or introducedinto the vessel B will under this adjustment of parts and with water orother cooling agent circulating through the interior of the vessel B andhead G become chilled in those portions in immediate contact with theWalls of said parts. This chilling or setting will be sufficient to giveto the film of glass a considerable tenacity, adapting it to be drawnand manipulated as required. After the film is thus formed, itsthickness being determined by the relative temperatures of the vessel Band head G on the one hand and of the glass on the other, the core orchill O and the head G (which latter rests upon the top of the core) areelevated from the position shown in Fig. 1 .to that indicated in Fig. 2or sufficiently to carry the upper end of chill or core C slightly abovethe level of the glass within the vessel B. This done, the core or chillis locked in position, and immediately thereafter air or other gas underpressure is allowed to flow through pipe H under proper control orregulation. At the same time the head G is elevated slightly, so thatthe air may escape between said head and the upper end of core or chillC and act beneath or within the film of glass chilled or partially setand lying upon the exposed upper end of core C and head G. The result ofthis simultaneous elevation and introduction of air is to strip theglass film from the said parts and to expand the same in the form of ahollow bulb or globe, as indicated in Fig. 3. This operation continuesuntil the diameter of the bulb or globe equals that of the body to bedrawn or produced. The set or chilled film is gradually stripped off,not only from the core but from the central boss or raised portion ofthe vessel B. In other words, it assumes substantially the formindicated in Fig. 3. As l the bulb is thus raised above the level of theglass in the vessel B (the cover E having been previously thrown back)it becomes completely chilled and set. It is of gradually-decreasingthickness from its highest point down to the level of the molten metaland thence increases toward the point at which it again makes contactwith the chilled wall of vessel B; but as the head G rises further andthe bulb remains longer out of contact with the chilling surfaces and incontact with the molten metal the thin portion of the film within thebody of metal gradually melts down and allows the molten metal to flowback into contact With the chilling surfaces. The depending edge orskirt of the upper portion of the bulb (which portion now becomes abait) remains in contact or united with the molten glass or metal invessel B and having now a fixed diameter by reason of its setting andchilling and a fixed thickness at the point of contact it will continueto draw upward from the molten metal in vessel B a body of glass exactlyconforming in outline to the outline of said bait and of a thickness ofWall equal to the thickness of said skirt or depending edge of the bait.The cylinder or other body may be drawn to any length within thepractical limits of elevation of the head G, contact with the atmosphereserving to promptly chill the glass and set the same. The air enteringwithin the cylinder or other body thus drawn of course becomes rapidlyheated and expands, and this expansion may be more rapid than theincrease of space incident to elongation of the cylinder or other body.To guard against possible distortion of the cylinder or other body oragainst undue pressure within it incident to this expansion, the pipe 2'may be perforated, as shown in Fig. 5, so that any excess of air withinthe cylinder may pass out through said perforations and escape into thesurrounding atmosphere. The rate of escape may be controlled by a valveof any suitable type-as, for instance, an outwardlyopening check-valve7', such as is indicated in Fig. 5. Any convenient means may be providedfor elevating the head G, a hydraulic lift being represented in thedrawings as a convenient and familiar means to this end. WV hen thecylinder or body attains the desired length, it becomes necessary toseparate it from the metal in the vessel B. This may be done in any of avariety of well-known ways; but I prefer to provide close to the levelof the glass or metal in the vessel B a hollow ring 1, communicatingwith a gas-supply and provided with a series of perforations orjetopenings, as shown in Fig. 1. By admitting gas to this ring andpermitting it to escape through the jet-openings and to become ignitedheat sufficient to melt and sever the glass at that point will beproduced. The head G being slightly further elevated, any suitablesupport or carrier maybe introduced beneath the lower end of thecylinder to sustain the same while head G is lowered clear of thecylinder, or the cylinder may be lifted from above the head withoutlowering thelatter. it is preferred, however, to lower the samepreparatory to removing the cylinder or other body. The head (Jr andcore or chill U are lowered to the initial positions (indicated in Fig.l) preparatory to the formation of another cylinder or other body, andthe above-described operations are repeated.

By this means and in this manner I am enabled to produce with greatrapidity cylinders and like bodies of glass of any thickness desired andof any length within reasonable limits.

If it be desired to convert the glass into sheets or plates, the head ofthe cylinder will making the head and core of suitable form I polygonalbodies may be produced from which fiat sheets may be out without thenecessity of performing the flattening operation as a distinct andseparate step.

It will be observed that by my plan of operation and with the aid of theapparatus above described I produce for each cylinder or other bodydrawn a new bait of such shape and dimensions as may be required andthat l form it out of the same metal from which the bait draws thecylinder or other body. 1 thus avoid any possible difference in thecharacter of the glass constituting the bait and that of the body drawnby said bait. I also obviate the necessity of providing separateapparatus for making the bait and avoid the delay incident to suchseparate operation and the loss occasioned by making and storing suchbaits, handling them, and placing them in position in the apparatus.

It is obvious that the details of the apparatus may be greatly varied,that any known and convenient means of cooling may be employed wherewater or like agent is suggested, that the vessel may be made in one orin several parts and of any suitable material, that the means forelevating the head and for adjusting the chill or core may also bevaried as desired, and that the general details of ctmstruction may bevaried according to the requirements of any particular situation or asthe judgment or fancy of the constructor may dictate or suggest.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In an apparatus for themanufacture of glass cylinders and like bodies, the combination of avessel adapted to contain molten glass or metal; means for chilling saidvessel; a core or chill within said vessel; ahead on said core or chillprovided with means for cooling or chilling the same; means forelevating and lowering said head; and a pipe or l l l l i l inlet forthe admission of air or other gas under pressure beneath said head, allsubstantially as described.

2. In combination with a vessel adapted to contain molten glass ormetal, provided with a core or chill rising above the bottom of saidvessel, means for cooling said core; a head above said core; means forcooling or chilling said head; elevating devices for raising said head;and means for introducing air or othergas beneath said head, whereby,through the chilling action of the head and core, a film of glass may bechilled or set thereon, and by the elevation of said head and theintroduction of air or other gas said lilm may be expanded to form abait and to draw from the molten metal a cylinder or like body.

3. .In an apparatus for the manufacture of glass, the combination of avessel adapted to contain molten metal; a central core provided withmeans for cooling or chilling the same; a vertically-movable head abovesaid core; a pipe for the introduction of air or other gas below saidhead; a support for said head comprising an inlet and an outlet pipe forthe introduction and escape of water or other cooling medium; and means,substantially as described and shown, for elevating and lowering thehead.

a. In an apparatus for the manufacture of glass, the combination of avessel adapted to contain molten metal; a central core provided withmeans for cooling or chilling the same; a vertically-movablc head abovesaid core; a pipe for the introduction of air or other gas below saidhead; a support for said head comprising an inlet and an outlet pipe forthe introduction and escape of water or other cooling medium, and athird pipe closed against communication with the interior of the headbut perforated near its upper end to afford escape for air from withinthe body being drawn; and means, substantially as described and shown,for elevating and lowering the head.

in an apparatus for the manufacture of glass cylinders and like bodies,the combination of a vessel for containing molten glass or metal; meansfor chilling or partially setting a lilm of glass within said vessel; ahead arranged to contact with the molten glass and to stand beneath thelilm thus produced; means for elevating said head; and means forintroducing air or other gas into the hollow film.

G. In an apparatus for the manufacture of glass cylinders and likebodies, the combination of a vessel for .;ontaining molten glass ormetal; means for chilling or partially setting a film of glass withinsaid vessel; a head arranged to contact with the molten glass and tostand beneath the lilm thus produced; means for elevating said head;means for introducing air or other gas into the hollow lilm; and meansfor severing the cylinder or other body formed by the elevation of thehead and film.

'7. In an apparatus for the manufacture of glass cylinders and likebodies, the combination of a vessel for containing molten glass ormetal; means for chilling or partially setting a film oi glass withinsaid vessel; a head located Within said vessel and adapted to standbeneath the film thus produced; means for elevating said head; means forintroducing air or other gas into the hollow film; and a severing devicefor said cylinder or other body consisting of an encircling hollow ringprovided with a series of jet-openings and communicating with a suitablegassupply.

8. In combination with vessel B; core or chill 0; head Gr; pipes orconductors for supplying a cooling medium to the core C and head G; andmeans for elevating the head G, all substantially as described.

9. In combination with vessel B and core C; head G; pipes g and 7tcommunicating with the interior of said head and serving to introduce acooling medium thereinto; pipe 2' having an opening near its top butclosed against communication with said head (Jr; and pipeH serving tointroduce air or other gas under pressure within the core (J. allsubstantially as described.

10. In glass-drawing apparatus a vessel arranged tocontain molten glass;a core within the vessel, means for chilling a film and elevatingitabove the core, and means for expanding said film; substantially asdescribed.

11. In apparatus for drawing glass, a receptacle for molten glass, acore, means for forming a film on the core within the glass and meansfor expanding the film so that it may be used as a bait; substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two sul scribing witnesses.

ROGER SHERMAN PEASE.

WVitnesscs:

UPTON H. RIDnNoUR, Jr., HORACE A. DODGE.

